POGU

My family and I came in for a celebration and chose to get the Chef's Choice menu. Overall, the menu was well balanced, tasty and excellent quality. All the ingredients were fresh and seasoned well. Service was great, very attentive and accommodating. I'd recommend this place for a low-key date night if you're looking for a great Korean menu.

I came to try this popular restaurant inside the Korean supermarket. There was no wait — we were seated right away. Although it’s located in a supermarket, the atmosphere was decent and actually felt quite formal. The service was excellent — the staff were very friendly and welcoming, always smiling. I forgot the server’s name, but I think it might have been Yao or something similar, a three-letter name starting with “Y.” As for the food, everything looked great, but the taste was just okay. Not bad, but not particularly impressive either — slightly below what I was expecting. The sauce on the sashimi salad was decent, and the chicken soup was a bit salty without much of that rich chicken flavor. The beef short ribs were fine, though they weren’t served hot — more lukewarm — but tasted good with the spicy mayo and soybean paste. Overall, it was a decent experience. The service definitely added a positive touch.

The food was delicious, and the service was super friendly and fast. I had the menu blue sunset mocktail which is not for the weak, as it tasted like blue raspberry without the raspberry. Some people’s taste, probably not mine though. For my dinner I had the beef bulgogi bowl which was delicious. The flavors were simple but rich, and the beef was very well cooked. The interior is clean and nicely designed, but it’s pretty open, so from my seat I had a clear view of the Old Navy across the way, which took away a little from the vibe. This restaurant was definitely a little expensive, but still a great experience!

POGU has been nothing but fantastic. They keep the menu small and simple but each dish coming out looks very creative with beautiful plating. The taste also matches a the food will come back! Also really appreciate all the vegetarian options. Go for the Makgeoli cocktails!

Real authentic taste and very happy with their dishes. Perfect portion for two with one appetizer and two entrees. Crab appetizer, Buckwheat chicken noodles, and abalone rice bowl all very tasty with bright and strong variety of flavors. Reasonable prices for what you get as well as some of the subtle touches involved. Recommend reserving in advance. Please visit and enjoy!

Unexpected gem in Serramonte! We walked in with zero expectations and left planning our next visit. The food was excellent across the board and the service was truly above and beyond — friendly, attentive, and on-point with suggestions. Special shout-out to the beef barbecue: tender, deeply flavorful, and perfectly cooked — outstanding. The fresh bread was a fun, unexpected win (warm and dangerously good). I also tried abalone for the first time — clean, buttery, and beautifully prepared. Great timing, dishes arrived unexpectedly fast. Highly recommend Pogu if you’re anywhere near Serramonte.

Loved the atmosphere - especially how they brought the idea of ‘Pogu’(‘port’ in Korean) for every detail and the illustration for the table mats was lovely too. The food is so authentic (I was born and grew up in Seoul) - gotta love the side dishes and the sauce, salad and everything! The server even asked if we wanted to get the default salad again - we really loved the service. the quality of meat for the Bansang LA Galbi could be improved though! The Kimchi noodles were lovely. Overall my experience in Pogu was wonderful. I’d try the mackerel bansang next time. Will def come back for more!

Bring from Daly City, it is a breath of fresh air that a fine dining place like POGU exists. The staff were polite and cheerful. The food was excellent. The only thing was that it’s in a supermarket and the intercom was going off in the middle of our meal. Also, could use some music. Other than that, the place in general feels relaxing, the lighting calm. I would recommend bring the family or date night.

Really good food and an amazing Kimchi Sour beer. Definitely going to come again to try more.

Absolutely incredible! Everything we had was fantastic. I especially loved the seafood stew. Raw seafood salad was bursting with fresh flavors. Service was also amazing. Friendly and attentive. Can't wait to come back!

Nice place! The food was delectable: bulgogi seasoning was pretty perfect, generous amount of meat, the abalone dish was Thế best, the kalbi dish was very good too. I need to come back to try the prix fix menu!

My husband and I had a reservation for lunch (12pm) on a Sunday. Otherwise the wait probably would've been minimal since there were plenty of spots still available. We were greeted and promptly sat down. The server explained the specials/features and gave us the menus (food, wine, drinks). For our reservation we were given complimentary Cinnamon Punch Juice. These were refreshing. We also had the water (which I believe was infused with lemon). Our server was pretty attentive and quick to clear or bring out our dishes as they were ready. We had a tough time deciding on the dishes (wasn't really in the mood for a pre fixe meal, but that piqued my interest and may be something to try next time), but ended up getting the Bansan Grilled Mackerel and the Gangwan Buckwheat Noodles with Chicken. They gave us a few start dishes of a sweet bread with a flavored butter, a few banchan (kim chi, potato dish and one other one), and small salad. We had just barely finished the first few dishes when they brought out our entrees. Both had amazing presentations--the noodles had all rhe colors and flavors, but needed to be mixed up first. The mackerel came out on its own tray with the rice, 4 dipping sauces, few raw veggies, and some leaves/wraps. It was a lot and basically took over our entire table, but it was all so delicious. The fish was crispy and a bit salty (from the way it was prepared), but with rice it was perfect. The sauces--barbeque, mushroom/seaweed, another that I forgot, and one that included garlic--were all good. The noodles were delicious and the chicken was shredded and almost blended in with the noodles. The banchan was very delicious and I think appropriately sized since these meals were huge! Next time, we may order the Bansang Grilled LA Galbi as we saw that some other tables ordered this and it looked good. Or we may opt for thr pre fixe option. The staff was very friendly and efficient. The place was clean and orderly and I loved how everything was a little elevated--decor, place settings, ambiance. I guess, why wouldn't it be since the chef is the only Korean chef to have a Michelin star. The restroom is one that is shared with the grocery store, Jagalchi. And I honestly forgot that it is a store/market since it was not extremely loud in the restaurant. When we left, we saw that there is even an outside bar where you can opt to sit and eat. They also do reward people that review their restaurant, giving a free cocktail per review. Since we were recovering from a night out of drinking, we decided to forgo this and will maybe take advantage of this offer if still valid on a return visit. Can't wait to come back and try something else! Hopefully next time we will be in the drinking mood since the cocktails and wines looked good.

Samgyetang with Abalone - $38 It's very easy for chicken in soups to come out dry. This chicken is surprisingly tender and silky smooth. I do wish the broth had a stronger ginseng profile. The accompanying porridge has a very nice umami to it. Although the abalone makes for a visually impressive dish, I could have done without it and lower the price to $30. The complimentary bread was a bit tough and dry. The butter that comes with it is pretty good though. I think the server said these come from the market's bakery and are not refillable, but available for purchase. The refillable banchan spread is small but decent.

I came here with a couple of friends on a Saturday. There was no wait during lunch time and was pretty much seated instantly. Definitely enjoyed the neat and clean ambiance. I would have loved to sit closer to the open kitchen area to watch them work, but didn't mind it. I ordered the eel bibimbap and yuzu mojito. You get a decent amount of eel and the eel has a good amount of meat on it. The way it is cooked, I didn't see anything special. The rice is in a metal pot, so you dont get much of the charred rice flavor that a stone pot bibimbap would have given. The yuzu mojito was well made and tasty. Overall, the food was good, portion size was satisfying and would come back to try their more signature dishes.

Was surprised to find a nice restaurant in the middle of Jagalchi market and it was surprisingly pretty good! Did not have reservations but was able to get a table just after noon on a Saturday. It was busy, but plenty of seating as it's quite large. They do have a set course menu but they do also have a handful of entrees and specials. Service was very attentive from beginning to end. I ordered the Yuzu cocktail which was mixed with soju and mint. It was refreshing but did not taste the alcohol at all. We received a few banchans, the spicy squid was my favorite. There's also a nice bowl of salad and the most delicious rice flour bread that comes with a whipped matcha butter. Really tasty and could eat 5 more of these. The bulgogi rice bowl was a bit pricey at $28, but it was really good. I loved all the touches of fried enoki mushrooms and some sort of green sauce. The meat was super tender and it was a huge portion as well. Overall would recommend, just wish they had more entree options available.

Inside Jagalchi is POGU which is perfect after a round of grocery shopping! We thoroughly enjoyed everything we had, especially the galbi paired with the different sauces and wraps, the tofu kimchi stew, and the salad appetizer! The bread was a little hard and dry but everything else was good and refreshing! The service as well was also great and the waiters had great recommendations and explained the dishes well.

Great Ambience, service is good. We had reservations but your whole Party needs to be here before you can be seated. The food was delicious

We stumbled upon POGU on a Friday afternoon and had no wait. The restaurant is located in the new Jagalchi mall and is absolutely beautiful! The space is big, clean, and has a lounge area that is reminiscent of a hotel bar lobby. Our waitress, Clara, was so nice and friendly. She explained the menu, checked up on us regularly, and gave recommendations for what to order. We ordered the yogurt highball and white lotus cocktails which were delicious, the Pogu seafood salad, and veggie bibimbap with a side of bugolgi. Before the food came, they brought out a trio of banchan which was delicious, and a sesame gochugaru salad. The bibimbap was great, although I wish it was served in the traditional stone pot so the rice could be crispy. The raw seafood salad was also delicious with fresh ingredients. We were delighted by the dragonfruit and crab guts and zesty flavor of the salad dressing. Overall, we were delighted by our experience here and would definitely come back!

Great service and food at this restaurant. There are high chairs available for babies/toddlers, and other different types of seating (floor seats, high tops, booths, lounge area, etc). I found that to be very interesting and one of the main factors I'd like to return to this restaurant. Our waiter, Yan, was great, quick and knowledgeable. He was so patient with our questions about items on the menu. My partner got the Yuzu Mojito and raved about how refreshing it was. We got the 3 specials: mackerel, spicy pork and short ribs. It came with a good mix of banchan. The items were so delicious. My kids enjoyed sharing the bulgogi rice bowl. Beautiful decor inside. Got real busy once we left. Looking forward to coming back again and trying their kimchi noodle soup!

Tried Pogu in Jagalchi! which is nice that we can dine in the korean market. The complimentary bread and matcha butter were super good! The dishes are typically served for one person but since we wanted to try everything we tried five dishes (pork, gal bi, 100 years abalone jangbap, eel bibimbap, blue crab cabbage kimchi jjim). Everything came out really quickly and our server was wonderful! I highly recommend coming here if you're at the market wanting a meal.

If you're shopping at Jagalchi supermarket, definitely consider stopping at POGU, which is tucked right in the middle of it all. This isn't your typical Korean restaurant. The menu is small, but it's clearly curated with care by a Michelin chef, and every dish feels intentional. I had the buckwheat noodles, which were plated beautifully and tasted just as good as they looked. My kids went for the bulgogi beef bowl and loved it, and the galbi was a standout. On top of that, the service was warm and attentive, which made the whole experience even better.

Visited twice now for weekday lunch and have not had a problem getting a table. It's also quieter in the grocery store on the weekend, so it's easier to forget you're surrounding by people shopping. Pros - modern American twist on Korean food - lots of fresh vegetables - varied flavors and sauces - spacious, clean, and nice ambiance Cons - small water cup and you have to flag for refills - menu doesn't have much detail, so it's a little bit of a leap of faith Would recommend the Bulgogi Rice Bowl!

Service is spectacular. Our wait staff, Jaz, was knowledgeable and helpful. She knew the dishes and helped us make our decisions. The cocktails were good, good amount of alcohol in the mix. Definitely recommend the pina colada makgeoli is delicious! The seasonal cocktails are good too. The house salad and bread and cream are great! The bonchons are ok, the kimchi is not as fermented as I would have liked. Definitely get the grilled La galbi and pork. Very flavorful. The side dishes that come with the grilled meat dishes are great! The rice has a mixture of rice and mung beans. The fish salad and soba were good, but I would leave out the chicken from the soba dish next time. The soybean soup is so well balanced, not salty. All-in-all, good experience and meal.

This review is for the bar at Pogu. This bar sits in the middle of a beautiful and wonderfully stocked Korean grocery store. Decent variety on the drink menus - one cocktail and a separate wine menu. The service was friendly - Joseph, our bartender, manages the drink making for the bar and the restaurant with class and style. We can't wait to try the restaurant next!

Ordered the blue crab appetizer, beef bulgogi, eel bibimbap, abalone hotpot, and abalone bulgogi. They were very busy everything came out slowly whether you need napkins, spoons, water, etc. Bread starter Rice flour bun gluten free with a side of matcha cream. The bread was tough at the surface and crumbly in the center. Over baked? 6/10 The matcha cream was great- good matcha flavor and not too sweet 9/10 Blue crab appetizer A large roll of crab fish cake with drops of carrot puree, thinly sliced veggies, microgreens, and onions. The sauce made the dish. Sauce was sour maybe lemon juice, slight taste similar to wasabi, microgreens a bit bitter, onions were sweet. Overall a fun dish but didn't quite like that the crab was served as a fish cake 8/10 Abalone bulgogi Light flavor, the Abalone is light and crunchy, there's a nice fried onion or shallot topping that makes it taste a bit like charcoal. Not bad but wouldn't get again. Eel bibimbap Doesn't stand out. As good as any eel bowl.

Been wanting to check out this place since it's opening. They provide complimentary kimchi salad with some refined banchan dishes. The salad is refreshing and tasty. We love it so much that they refilled for us. We ordered the tofu kimchi appetizer which came in a beautiful plating. The tofu is crispy with kimchi garnishing around it and toasted seaweed sprinkles on top. For main entrees, my husband ordered the grilled mackerel set that comes with a complete lovely set of dipping sauces and some raw veggie wraps. He thought the mackerel was super delicious. I had their Pogu kimchi noodle which the base broth itself (before mixing with Kimchi and toppings) was really clean with good taste ( mixture of umami and/or anchovies). I also ordered their Jeju blue sunset cocktail. Well balanced (alcohol to sweetness) a refreshing drink. It's mixed of vodka, soju and blue curaçao would be my guess- for the color). I have to say the highlight of this meal has to be their complimentary kimchi salad and the tofu kimchi appetizer. Service is great. The food came out fast. With great ambiance considering it's inside a grocery store

We didn't have reservation. Walk in was quick and easy. Wait was about 10 mins Saturday lunch time. My abalone chicken soup was fresh and pipping hot. The taste could be better. My DD and DH had their eel bibimbap and abalone jangbap. They were all satisfied and very filling. Yuzu baram didn't disappoint me. Banchan and kimchi salad (in house) came in later than the entrees which was a little odd. Otherwise we are happy with our dining experience.

I've been here twice. Once for a quick solo lunch one for a dinner with company. The lunch of bulgogi beef had good flavor but was just cold (I get that this may be traditional...but I'm not off working in the fields, I'm at a fancy restaurant). Came back again and we got it again and it was hot. I had the soba and chicken (which was advertised as cold) and it was pretty good. There was a "blue crab" dish on the appetizer list and when we asked how is it the server told us it was good and that it was imitation crab. I asked again "so it's not blue crab, it's imitation?" He confirmed. We got the tofu app instead which was pretty yummy. You get a tiny tiny portion of banchan (those ubiquitous small dishes that land with Korean meals) here and overall for the price you pay you'd do way better going elsewhere. If you're here and need a quick expensive meal then sure but that's on you.

My wife and I tried the chef's choice menu at Pogu, and it was absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. Every dish we had was delicious, but our standouts were the fresh and flavorful fish salad, the perfectly prepared buckwheat noodle dish, the tender and juicy steak, and the decadent dessert--basically, we loved the entire menu! Our waitress, Crystal, was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and genuinely pleasant, which made the evening even more enjoyable. From the food to the service, everything was top-notch. We left completely satisfied and can't wait to come back. Highly recommend! Peak Korean fine dining!

Second visit and love the improvements. There was a broader menu including ssam specials. The salad was crisp/flavorful and the cinnamon-flavored drink as part of our reservation was refreshing! I love the complimentary bread and dip!! Service is polished and attentive. Great Korean option in Daly City! The space is beautiful and we used the seated waiting area this time too!

A stunning celebration of Korea cuisine. Tony Yoo has shared his vision of Michelin-rated Korean fare in the heart of Jagalchi in the Serramonte Mall in Daly City. The novelty isn't the draw, his culinary team has made a commitment to distilling the best aspects of modern Korean, with a palpable twist across several standard dishes. Highlights from our time include the Seafood Tofu Soup, Eel Bibimbop, and the Chicken Stew. Strong flavors, even stronger drinks. You'll make mall onlookers curious as you enjoy a rare, intentional meal.

Fresh ingredients and elevated set up despite being inside the jagalchi. Dishes were delicious in the light and fresh way. Nothing was heavy or greasy. My favorite was the abalone samgyetang as it felt nourishing and slowcooked. The kimchi noodles were underwhelming to me but still light and I imagine it to be a good summer dish. The bread and banchan were nice additions, although the banchan portions were a tad too small and we asked for a second plate. Cookware was mostly silver and wood which I liked. Service was okay but we flagged them many times to refill water. Good experience, but unsure how many times I would go back. I think it's an interesting placement in the middle of the grocery store and it should probably be its own stand.

Came here on a weekend, and the space has finally calmed down so you could actually have a reltively relaxing experience. I pulled up and was shocked to get parking within the main exit space. Amazing. Entrance to this restaurant is on the mall side, so if you come in from the parking lot, you're required to walk around the whole space. I recommend doing this via the seafood/meat section, since it's easier to walk through. We had a reservation and was seated pretty quickly. I was glad we weren't near the entrance sides - it makes you feel a little like a fish in a bowl as people walk by. Our server, Jaz, was great. Had good recommendations and was by often to refill our water. Which was often...because the water cups are hella small. The food was pretty solid. I did a yelp review in that moment for a free coffee booze - it was...okay. It had the caffiene I needed. Generally food was fine. It wasn't anything very special, and for the price it was borderline too expensive. But the flavors were clean and given it's a restaurant inside a grocery store...it was pretty good. Probably my favorite was the Bulgogi Bim Bim Bap and the LA Galbi.

The food is so well presented and the taste is sooooo good AND authentic. Friendly staff and the service level is high. I hope they expand their menu because the environment is so nice despite it being in a grocery store!

Pogu has a spacious layout dining room with dark furniture and warm lighting. You don't feel overcrowded. It has an open kitchen in the center of the restaurant. Their menu is small compared to other restaurants. Our server, Karl, was friendly. He filled our waters several times and followed up on us. Great service! Husband and I enjoyed their complimentary rice flower bread with yummy, soft matcha butter! It tasted more like a dessert. NOM NOM. We also had their starter salad and three banchan. We ordered their eel bowl and beef bulgogi bowl. Both dishes had a pretty presentation and tasted good. We will be back to visit when visiting the Bay Area.

At this point, I've been here about 4 times... which is too many times in my opinion as I only get one thing from here: tofu stew. It's just that, the menu is so small and my friends are so many (oh woe is me) so different people want to come here. 1. The complimentary bread is good but for some reason, you would think it's the same as their bakery, which maybe it is, but it doesn't taste like it. It tastes way better than what the adjoined bakery tastes like 2. Bulgolgi bowl: you get a lot of bulgolgi and I think the only one worth getting (I know, I learned my lesson too late) 3. Eel bowl: you can't go wrong with this especially since the eel they do sell at jagalchi is very yummy. But also, you can make this at home and it's cheaper (just make rice and combine it with the eel they sell lol) 4. Soft tofu stew: it's fine. It's soft tofu stew! Not much can go wrong and it's good. It's just... mid. Everything is decent but no WOW factor.

Great ambiance, fast service, good food! My table ordered the kimchi noodles, kimchi tofu stew, and veggie salad. There was free bread and match dip as well as banchan. The food portions were big & super tasty! Definitely would come back here, especially if also doing a grocery run

As writing this review, I am still eating the main course of the Bansang LA galbi, as well as trying out the veggie platter and bulgogi rice bowl, and I have never been so amazed with the quality of traditional Korean food. The service was top tier, as the food came out quickly, the service was super kind, and we even were given a gifted pastry. With the calming environment, I definitely will come back again.

Service is great and food looks amazing. Chef Tony in the house today. The galbi is delicious

Beautiful restaurant. The decor is beautifully thought of and put out. The food came out fast , it was delicious and fresh. I love how the kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant and an open concept. 1st Korean Michelin Star Chef... great food. The servers can use more training, they seem clueless.

I was waiting til the lines died down before going to Jalgachi. I actually wanted to get a few dishes at the market and eat outside, but my mom wanted a nice sit down dining. We went to the bank before coming here and we told them we were headed to Jalgachi for lunch. The banker even said it was all hype, and many of his co-workers didn't really like it. Well, I like to see things for myself, but he was right. We went to Pogu and as soon as I saw the menu, which was limited and expensive, I wished we got the food deli boxes from the market. We shared a bulgogi side dish( which was plenty of meat) and veg bimbap. Wished they offered a variety of bimbap instead of having to order bulgogi as a separate entree. Do not order the meal, but order as a side and it will be half the price and plenty of meat still. Now I should have gotten the clue, there were Hispanic and other than Koreans cooking in the open air kitchen area. The food just didn't appeal to me and I normally love Korean food. The veg bimbap had a small regular bowl of rice ( so no crispy underside coming out and cooking in a stoneware bowl- none of that). A platter filled with cold mushrooms, greens, tiny diced maybe asparagus, shredded carrots and cucumber and lots of alfalfa sprouts ( which I don't like) and even a COLD sunny side egg bordering on raw. I am so glad I added the bulgogi for something warm at least to make it palatable. This dish came out very quickly so maybe sitting there to serve whoever orders it and got cold? Or idk maybe it was supposed to be cold- like almost ice cold? The bulgogi did not taste good either and tasted like gristly type of shredded meat despite not being shredded and tasted actually like Chinese "Ro Song"(dried shredded pork almost kind of powdery meat to put on jook or xie fan). That was not good as a bulgogi( and I do like ro song normally but not as my grilled meat!) and kind of dry and tasted kind of boiled, rather than grilled or stir fried. Banchan came and there was kimchi, mashed potato salad( both of these were good) and a pickled jalapeños ( something was good in this mix like pickled light green beans- avoided the pickled raw jalapeños). Note they do give free refills on the banchan. Anyway, for 2 people who shared one entree 23.00)and one side (10.00) so 36.26 for the total( 43.26 including tip). So figuring 1-1.5 dish if I ordered two entrees it would be easily 70-80.! So tip 1: order the bulgogi if you want meat( limited entrees) as a SIDE order for 10.( instead of like 28.00)! Tip 2: order the barley tea- that was nice and warm. I liked it and wanted to try it as I heard it was good for digestion and flat tummy/can lose weight and like a fountain of youth keeping Koreans young looking. Also a good anti-oxidant and good for skin, colds/flu and immunity, etc. Mild flavor but warming-I liked it actually. Tip 3: The pork bassam was a special that day to be eaten in leaves with other pickled vegetables. I saw later passing by other tables, if you are trying to decide what to order, don't get what I got, but try this which actually looked better! It looked delicious as I passed by! Tip 4: if you go to Jalgachi, get the ready made dishes like Japanese sushi, bimbap rolls( Korean sushi with fish cake and one had bulgogi too). These were ok, as I ordered for dinner later that night for a quick meal. These were more reasonable in price and you can eat in outside picnic tables. They even had bulgogi bowls with hotter ( in terms of temperature) and about 11.00 for entrees with rice( almost half to 1/3 the price of entrees at the restaurant!). Save you money and probably looked a bit more appetizing even. Japchae though didn't look appetizing more mushed together. Overall, food at Pogu was - 2.0 level. They could do much better and with good Korean restaurants in the SF area, they should do better which will draw more people in.

There's a strange dissonance when a white wine-kissed pumpkin soup is set before you while someone elbows past with a cart full of napa cabbage and frozen dumplings. Welcome to POGU--Daly City's latest culinary enigma nestled in the heart of Jalgachi, a Korean grocery store as frenetic as it is fragrant. My wife and I planned this visit with care. We skipped the chaos of opening week, giving the buzz a chance to settle and the kitchen, we hoped, time to breathe. The draw? A seasonal Chef's Choice menu crafted by a Michelin-starred chef, a five-course tour meant to showcase the ingenuity of modern Korean dining. We added the optional wine pairing--limited to two courses--and arrived with open minds and ready palates. We were seated quickly in the modest dining area carved out from the center of the market. And then we waited. No water, no introductions, no soft landing. Just the lingering scent of hot broth from the nearby food stalls and the clatter of shopping baskets. When the food began to arrive, it did so with the detached rhythm of a cafeteria line. Yet the dishes themselves spoke a different language--one of technique, ambition, and fleeting brilliance. First Course: Pumpkin Soup with White Wine Pairing Velvety and warm, the soup arrived in a minimalist bowl that belied its autumnal richness. Each spoonful was a blend of comfort and precision, its mellow sweetness elevated by the crisp minerality of the paired white wine. It whispered refinement--until the neighboring table's rice cooker beeped. Second Course: Fish Salad with Crab Innards, Caviar, Red Bean Chili, and Spinach Aioli Here, the chef reached for contrast and complexity. The brininess of the caviar tangled with the depth of the crab innards, while the red bean chili offered a gentle hum beneath it all. The spinach aioli tried to ground the dish but got a bit lost in the chorus. Ambitious, if slightly overcrowded. Third Course: Buckwheat Noodle with Chicken Pesto The most surprising dish of the night. Rustic and clean, the earthy buckwheat and herbaceous pesto mingled in a way that felt almost Italian-Korean fusion. It didn't need to be dramatic--it just worked. Fourth Course: Beef Main with Assorted Banchan and Red Wine Pairing The beef was tender, generously portioned, and plated with thoughtful simplicity. But what stood out more were the classic Korean side dishes--kimchi with a sharp bite, silky potato salad, and sweet-savory mixed vegetables. The red wine added depth, though it felt like a late guest to a table that had already moved on from introductions. Fifth Course: Injeolmi Dessert A delicate end. The chewy rice cake dusted in roasted soybean powder had a subtle nuttiness and nostalgia, but was more textural than revelatory. The tragedy of POGU isn't the food--it's the context. The atmosphere, dominated by the din of grocery shoppers and the scent of frying batter, worked against any attempt at immersion. The service was polite but inconsistent; most staff seemed unsure of what they were serving. Only one server truly knew the menu and was a joy to speak with--but she arrived too late, too intermittently, to truly elevate the experience. Final Thoughts POGU feels like a passionate symphony trapped inside a karaoke bar. There's talent here--no doubt. The Chef's Choice menu showed flashes of brilliance, and I'm still thinking about that soup. But ambiance and service matter, especially when charging a premium for a curated experience. The idea of placing fine food in a chaotic public space might have been meant to democratize access to high-end cuisine. Instead, it left the food gasping for air. Would I return? Perhaps, when the seasons change and the menu does too. But only if the venue finds a way to let the food speak without shouting over the supermarket.

The food was okay overall. The servers were great, no complaints there. The table was too small to accommodate the dishes and all the dishes + drinks + appetizer came at the same time... would have preferred if the appetizer came first. In addition, all of that arrived within minutes of us ordering (like as if the food was prepared way in advance and was just sitting there?) The half a slice of hard ginseng inside the samgyetang was very stingy. The abalone was quite tough and chewy. They had a sign that offered a free cocktail when you write a review, but it was not specified that it does not apply to the limited time cocktails. We were not told that until we ordered our cocktails so we were ineligible for the free cocktail discount.

We went shopping at Jagalchi and decided to try this place, which is right in the middle of the store. There is no privacy because all of the shoppers can see inside as they walk by behind the open wooden poles. It's a pretty large restaurant and I can't imagine that this place would ever be full, so not sure why they wasted the space. We looked at the menu prior to seating and before you open to see the food options they highlight that the menu is from a Michelin rated chef so that intrigued us. Unfortunately, the entire meal fell flat. They give you a couple of complimentary things, which were nice and might've been the highlight of the whole meal. We ordered the crab appetizer, which had a great presentation and looked like it would be good. There were a lot of flavors, but the crab itself was cold and in large chunks that had no flavor themselves. I ordered the Eel, which was ok. A small bowl for $30 - I've definitely had better. My fiancé ordered the special and he said it was ok. Lots of small cuts of meat but nothing on the bones, which took up the majority of the dish so it was a bit deceiving. They had a variety of different dipping sauces, cabbage, and veggies to make it look like it's a lot of food. I was really expecting more from the chef and for the price. I definitely would not revisit. Honestly, I'd rather go grab a box of sushi that is made fresh on the outside of the restaurant.

Delightful dining experience & service was amazing! Delicious eats & beautiful presentation in an accessible location! Even better that we got to meet the chef!

What a treat this was! We didn't expect much as we stumbled upon this restaurant as we were grocery shopping. And when we were ordering, we thought prices were a bit on the high end. But after eating, we felt like we got away with an amazing deal. The meals come with complimentary salad, bread cake with matcha butter, and banchan, which were so good. Our entrees (seafood tofu soup, and bulgogi bi bum bap )were delicious and beautifully presented. The dishes were complex yet light tasting, and the quality of ingredients was evident. Will be back'

I've come twice so far. The first time was during the week of their grand opening. And if I have to be honest, that was not a great experience. The inside was super clean and service was super nice. However, the food was fairly bland, the portions were small, and the cost was just not worth it. However, I am a local, so I did come again a second time a few weeks later. And my experience was much better this time. The presentation of the food was much better, the portion sizes were more fair, and flavors were improved. in terms of flavor, the dishes were still fairly mild in terms of additional flavoring. So it would not be too well suited for people who prefer strong flavors. However, the lateness in the flavors really bring out the freshness of each ingredient. Service was just as nice and the place was still very clean.

Was going to the Target & decided to have a look at this higher end Korean market. Then we saw this restaurant. I use to go to Seoul often for business so decided to try it. Quit nice. Higher end like the rest of the store and the staff explains stuff to you if there is anything you don't understand. It's a little pricey, at about $75 per person if you don't drink or have desert.

Service host was wonderful, quality was fresh, it was a good 1st experience. Will return to try again.

Booked a reservation the night before for 6pm Saturday on Yelp. Arrived to shop a bit beforehand. The entrance to the restaurant is behind if ur entering from the main entrance in the front. Theres a line for reservations and walk-ins. We were checked in and seated right away but people were entering from any which way and seemed a bit disorganized. We were seated, the space is spacious. Ur far away from other tables which is usually not the case in bay area loll. There seems to be a bit of lack of communication and timing with things being served. Good thing was we were able to order pretty quickly. And the food we ordered came out quickly. But the complementary barely tea and ban chan came out after us asking. And there is a sweet bread with whipped cream served right away as well. Overall the food was good. The kimchi jigae is veryyy spicy and the bulgogi u cant really go wrong. The blue crab cabbage jjim is served cold and i didnt really like it. Combo of imitation and real crab in a cold roll with veggies and dragon fruit on side. Overall okie but dunno if i would be back. The price point is high for the quality/quantity of food.

The restaurant has a nice environment and good service, and the food is decent too. The

Fast service, very organized set of meals. We ordered the Bansang grilled LA Galbi and it was really good. The limited edition cocktails are also well crafted, I would highly recommend the Saja Inferno.

The food is very refined and creative, and the service is quite good as well. I recommend coming to give it a try.

First time here at POGU! I've been wanting to come try it out since they opened! Good service and ambiance, got the 무침salad , 삼계탕chicken soup, and불고기덮밥 beef over rice!

Beautiful upscale dining space in Serramonte Shopping Center. I was greeted as I checked warmly as I checked in for my reservation. Lemon water and a cinnamon spice cold tea was delivered shortly. The Bulgogi Rice Bowl was a perfect proportion of beef and rice. The Gangwon Buckwheat Noodles with chicken was flavorful with Pogu's special sauce. Will definitely return to Pogu to try more dishes.

My partner and I came here on a Friday early evening to FINALLY check out Jagalchi. We decided to go on a fun lil food tour and try a little bit of everything at all the food stalls, with our last stop at POGU. We ordered the Samgyetang and the Blue Crab Cabbage Jim, along with a Yuzu Soju cocktail and Makgeolli Kiwi cocktail. Everything was delicious and we loved the bansang that came with (kimchi, potato salad, pickled peppers, bread & matcha butter, and a salad). The Samgeyetang was so yummy and comforting - we would definitely order again. I thought the Blue Crab was okay and that's only bc I didn't expect it to be like imitation crab. I was expecting real crab. The service and ambience were also great!

We ordered the Chef's Pick which is a 5-course meal and it was superb!! Each piece was delicious and beautifully and artfully plated! Our favorite was the salad. We ordered the seafood tofu soup and it's very light but flavorful and definitely warm and comforting! Their sides were also fresh and delish, we had seconds! One order of the Chef's Pick and another soup item is just enough and hearty for two! We'll bring the kiddos next time! Highly recommend!... no wonder, coz their chef is a Michelin Star awardee!